Western Distributor seeks to head off sky rail-style consultation disaster

By Josh Gordon and Clay Lucas

UpdatedMarch 24, 2016 — 7.21amfirst published March 23, 2016 — 3.15pm

In an attempt by the Andrews government to avoid a sky rail-style public relations disaster, angry locals who would be affected by the planned Western Distributor toll road will get a say about the location of a controversial tunnel.

Transurban – the tolling company that will deliver the $5.5 billion road – infuriated Yarraville residents last year after quietly announcing it was moving a proposed tunnel portal to within 100 metres of their homes.

Under the first toll road plan released in May, the tunnel from the West Gate was to be in the centre of the freeway, far from homes.

Transurban's first proposal for the Western Distributor tunnel in Melbourne's west.

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But last September, Transurban proposed moving the tunnel entrance to a location near residents. The move infuriated locals, who said it would devastate a park and add to noise and pollution, while creating a spaghetti junction of overhead freeway ramps near their homes.

An artist's impression of the Western Distributor tollway as it crosses the Maribyrnong River.

Transurban's later proposal for the Western Distributor tunnel in Melbourne's west.

The move would have also shortened the length of the tunnel by up to a kilometre – sparking claims the decision was a cost-saving measure.

As a result of the controversy, the Andrews government will on Thursday announce a major consultation process, promising to give locals a say over the two options for the length and location of the tunnels.

It follows the sky rail debacle in Melbourne's south-east, where locals were told in February of the government's plans for a massive rail viaduct on a Saturday night, just hours before the story was given to a media outlet.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said there would be seven community consultation sessions over the Western Distributor project, and these would give residents a chance to help shape the project.

The project – the result of an unsolicited bid from Transurban – will offer an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, widening the freeway by two lanes in each direction, building a tunnel under Yarraville and an elevated road along Footscray Road to connect with CityLink and the city's western edge.

Scott Ellerton from Concerned Locals of Yarraville, a group that would be affected by Transurban's later proposal, said he hoped the government listened to the community.

He pointed to evidence given by Transurban chief executive Scott Charlton this month that indicated the ramps in the freeway's centre "would be our preferred option".

Mr Ellerton said the government wanted "the appearance of listening to community groups".

He said if the government backed Transurban's longer tunnel option, the project would have the support of the hundreds that would be badly affected by the other option.

"But the Hyde Street option is unacceptable and we will fight it if that's the way they go," he said.